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Flat Shifting...
(64 posts, started )
Quote from Shinanigans : Therefore, holding down the shift key shouldn't be activating the clutch, thus elminating flat shifting whilst 'auto' clutch. Flat shifting should only be available with the 'manual' clutch IMO.

:iagree:
#27 - stay
Quote from Tinvek :when i first started driving in real life my first car was a vauxhall viva 1256 cc, it was gutless so i used to flat shift that when i was in a hurry and because the engine was so slow racing it never did any damage.

Incidentally, I saw one of those on Sunday http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=161973973&size=l

The engine is lost in there. And where are the suspension turrets? They do have front suspension, don't they?
I use the autoclutch since I don't have a third pedal to use for the clutch. However, I have turned off autoblip on up and down shifts. With these off, I find that flat shifting in some cars can damage the engine within a handful of laps. With autoblip on, I can flat shift in all cars til the cows come home without suffering any damage.
Quote from Ball Bearing Turbo :EWw, me neither

:iagree:
Quote from stay :Incidentally, I saw one of those on Sunday http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=161973973&size=l

The engine is lost in there. And where are the suspension turrets? They do have front suspension, don't they?

forget your basic strut suspension m8

viva had wishbones at front and, whilst im not sure about earleir models, late hc had a 4 link rear axle, i used to be able to leave 1600 sport escort mk11's on twisty lanes that weren't too tight in the bends just because i could carry the speed better.
Quote from BuddhaBing :I use the autoclutch since I don't have a third pedal to use for the clutch. However, I have turned off autoblip on up and down shifts. With these off, I find that flat shifting in some cars can damage the engine within a handful of laps. With autoblip on, I can flat shift in all cars til the cows come home without suffering any damage.

Heh, there's no autoblip on upshift

You mean throttle cut on upshift and throttle blip on downshift. The former cuts away all throttle when shifting into next gear, while the latter adds a short throttle input while downshifting. Both increase stability while shifting, but only the former prevents flatshifting (and the engine damage resulting from it).
Most cars have rev-limiters, so flat shifting shouldn't hurt the engine, but it would probably damage the transmission on many cars. Downshifting at too high a speed will hurt the engine unless a slipper clutch that limits engine braking is used (racing motorcycles and some cars use this).

All out racing cars with no lift sequential shifters, will shift much faster than they do in LFS. Shift times are around 50ms (1/20th of a second) or faster. As usually, I refer to this video of a BMW 320 STW (super touring class), with an XTRAC type shifter (just a big switch near the steering whee). Turn down the sound, rear end is really loud and whiny.

Assen-bmwSTW.wmv
The way gearshifting is currently done is very annoying for me. I do not flat shift, I lift off - I have no choice, I have 3 pedals and a shifter, so flat shifting feels wrong and unrealistic. But this makes me slower, simply because I am going for a more realistic approach. I don't think this is fair.

The other thing that nags me is you can't stall the car because the silly auto clutch won't let you, but thats another topic.

IRL I did used to flat shift my old Nissan Micra, but that engine was so slow to pick up that it never harmed it or the clutch. Never done it to more than that tin can though.
#34 - J.B.
Just wanted to add: I used to always lift off when upshifting for the sake of realism. After a while I went to flat-shifting because my right foot started hurting. What does this mean? I don't know. Maybe that dfp pedals are crap or that racing in front of a desk isn't a good position to drive? Or maybe it's just me?

In terms of realism I think it will always be debatable what the best way to shift is as long as we don't have full mechanical force feedback shifters. Most people are using sequential shifters and real racing sequential shifters often have auto-throttle-cuts.
Personally I always flatshit. eer, flatshift, sorry

A bit easier on the pedals too, when you think about it.
Quote :...real racing sequential shifters often have auto-gear-cuts.

you mean throttle-cuts?
#37 - J.B.
Quote from al heeley :you mean throttle-cuts?

edited
#38 - Gunn
They say flat shifting saves you time, but I shifted from a flat in Melbourne to a townhouse in Sydney and lost a good two weeks of my life and not a small amount of hair.
Lol
Quote from Gunn :They say flat shifting saves you time, but I shifted from a flat in Melbourne to a townhouse in Sydney and lost a good two weeks of my life and not a small amount of hair.

Hahahahaha, you win the prize.
I started this post a couple of days ago now. Everyones different views on flat shifting are very interesting. Thanks everyone for contributing
I cannot reproduce that
Quote from downwiz2 :so it seems im faster when lifting accelerator.....and shifting....

I am pretty sure that it is quicker to flat shift. The moment in which the clutch is engaged and the revs are increasing there is extra energy being put into the car. When you engage the clutch again after shifting all this energy has got to go somwhere thus giving the car a subtle boost.

If you lift off then you are not giving the car this extra bit of energy therefore it must be slower...
#44 - Gunn
I also am leaning towards the theory that a well-executed manual shift can be faster than flat shifting.
/\ /\ I cant see how that it possible /\ /\
If the car has enough power to break traction after the mindless full throttle shift, it could be possible I would think.
o yes...i see what u mean now, but i dont think any of our cars do that to drastically do they?
The less time the clutch is engaged the more speed the car will maintain. As far as sloppy shifts go, well if you reef the clutch in and out really violently, the car is going to lunge forward from the sudden drive returning to the wheels. Best shift (besides a well setup auto) is a straight cut gearbox which requires little (usually only 1st to 2nd) or no clutch at all, and you just slam it into the gear you want
Quote from tommy10101 :o yes...i see what u mean now, but i dont think any of our cars do that to drastically do they?

Not really. Depends on your gearing anyway.
i vote for take the rev limiter off and bring back engine damage...
maybe make redline smaller, like 1000 or 1500rpm...



cheers

Flat Shifting...
(64 posts, started )
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